Given that both Lord Yardley and Lord Sherbourne were highly respected gentlemen of theton,most of the other gentlemen at the table immediately began to agree with them. Inwardly delighted, Phillip placed a frown on his face and attempted to protest, seeing Lord Anderton watching the goings-on with narrowed eyes.
“Alas, it seems as though you are in the minority, Lord Brookmire.” Lord Sutton grinned as Phillip rolled his eyes. “Those at this table shall be not allowed either bandy or whisky. We shall play with clear heads and strong minds. That, I think, is a very wise idea from Lord Yardley and Lord Sherbourne. So shall we now begin our game?”
Phillip looked to Lord Anderton, shrugging in what he hoped was a nonchalant fashion, but Lord Anderton’s face was already dark with anger. There was nothing Phillip could do, for even if he had truly wished to imbibe, Lord Sherbourne and Lord Yardley’s protests would have prevented him from doing so. Relieved that this one requirement had been taken from him, Phillip then set his mind to the game.
The game went very well at first. Phillip made no move to cheat, for it would be much too obvious so early in the game. Soon, however, he began to notice that there was something amiss. Glancing around the table, he took in one gentleman after the other, attempting to work out who it was that was adding an extra card here or there. He could not quite understand it, and certainly could not see the person responsible as yet, but it was with utter relief that he accepted that someone else was playing unfairly. Whichever gentlemen Lord Yardley and Lord Sherbourne had brought to the table, one of them was already on their way to doing exactly as Phillip had been tasked to do. The game continued for some time and Phillip, casting a glance to Lord Anderton, saw him smiling. Of course, he realized, Lord Anderton would think thathewas the one doing such a thing but, before he could do or say a word to anyone, Lord Sutton let out a loud exclamation.
“Itisyou, Lord Norville.” Bending over the side of his chair, he picked up a card from the floor, and then brandished it at Lord Norville, who had gone very pale indeed. “I wondered who was taking an extra card now and again, but I see that it is you! How dare you do such a thing?”
This loud exclamation had almost everyone else in the room looking at Lord Norville and Phillip sat back in his chair, watching as Lord Anderton’s smile slid slowly from his face. It was not Phillip who was to be blamed for the cheating then, but rather, Lord Norville. Given that Phillip had not as yet even begun to think about doing anything untoward, it was all the more delightful to him to see Lord Anderton lose yet again.
“I am not going to play this game any longer.” Lord Sherbourne slammed his cards down on the table and then got up, placing both hands on either side as he glared across the table at Lord Norville. “You are a trickster, Lord Norville. You are attempting to cheat us all by playing in a most unfair manner. How dare you call yourself a gentleman and behave so?”
At first, the gentleman protested, only then to sink low in his chair as the other gentlemen rose, one by one, from the table. Phillip too got to his feet, unable to keep the grin plastered across his face from revealing itself. He caught one or two odd glances and scrubbed one hand over his features, trying to remove it.
“Might I suggest that we all move to separate tables.” It was not Lord Yardley, Lord Sherbourne, Lord Marchmont nor Phillip who spoke, but another gentleman entirely. “Each one of us should go to join another game so that we split our table up and, as a consequence, Lord Norville is left without the chance to play with any of us.” He gestured to Phillip. “Lord Brookmire, why do you not join Lord Litton’s game in the library?”
He continued to direct the gentlemen, one to each of the other tables, and Phillip smiled in relief as Lord Marchmont was kept in the drawing room at another table. With a broad smile on his face, he made his way out of the room and towards the library, overwhelmed with satisfaction that yet again, Lord Anderton’s plans had been quite spoiled. There was no obvious way for Lord Anderton to place the blame upon Phillip’s shoulders, for now another gentleman had directed every person to another table, which meant that Lord Anderton could only blame bad luck.
“At least you tried to do what I had asked of you this time.”
Phillip swung around quickly as Lord Anderton followed him into the hallway.
“I did.” He kept his shoulders straight, his chin lifting as Lord Anderton sneered at him as though he had meant his previous remark as a jest. “It seems as though fate is set against me injuring the lives and fortunes of others.”
Lord Anderton rolled his eyes, silently stating that he found Phillip’s remark foolish.
“Have no doubt, I will find something else for you. Something where you shall have to succeed regardless of the actions of others.”
“Or you could forget about the entire matter.” Phillip spread out his hands to either side .“Just leave this as it stands, Lord Anderton. I have done nothing to injure you and you know very well that I only do as you ask under duress.”
“It is true that you have not hurt me,” Lord Anderton replied quickly, “but I am a gentleman looking for an advantage, and you, I am afraid, are very much someone I can use to my advantage. I like to keep my hands clean, to make sure that none in society know the truth of me - evidence of that you have seen for yourself, given that you had very little idea of my true character when I proposed that wager to you.” His smile curled around his lips, but it was not one which Phillip liked. “Might I suggest, Lord Brookmire, that you have underestimated me? You did not see the depth of my character before, and even though you see it now, you still think that there will be some goodness in me, something that will prevent me from continuing down this path. I can assure you that there is not.”
His heart sinking slowly from the giddy heights it had reached only a few moments ago, Phillip let his hands drop to his sides.
“Perhapsthisis something that I am glad of Lord Anderton,” he responded slowly, letting his words hang in the air between them. “I have been saved from becoming like you. I believe, if I had continued as I had intended, then perhaps, even as early as the end of this Season, I would have been as cold, as cruel, and as calculating as you.” A slight shudder ran through him. “I would rather be a gentleman who is attempting to redeem themselves rather than a gentleman who has no true companions, or compassion.”
An ugly look smeared itself across Lord Anderton’s face, rendering his expression a dark scowl, his eyes pinpricks as he narrowed them, heat in his cheeks and his lip curling furiously. He took a step closer, one pudgy hand curling into a fist.
“How dare you speak to me so? You know nothing about my life, and speak only in an attempt to push yourself into a position of power.”
Boldly, Phillip continued without hesitation – for what was it that the gentleman could do against Phillip’s words?
“That is not true, Lord Anderton. I watch you, and I see the truth of you, as you have said. You are someone who has no true friends. Everyone is either afraid of you, or seeks to be near you simply because of what you can offer them. No young lady is ever eager to spend time in your company, and they do, in fact, shy away from you as though they can see in your eyes the sort of heart you carry within you. I can see now, Lord Anderton, and I know that, in you forcing my hand, I have gained good things.”
Lord Anderton laughed mockingly.
“I hardly believe that.”
Phillip continued, undaunted by the interruption or the mockery he heard in Lord Anderton’s voice.
“It is true, whether you believe it or not. I have gained closer friendships with those who were already my friends, and I have found myself realizing the comfort it can be to tie oneself to another, rather than pursuing the many. I have the consideration of others, I have some respect from those I consider my equals, and those both above and below my standing. Mothers are no longer as eager to pull their daughters away from me, gentlemen do not turn their back upon me. The more I reflect upon the gentleman I was, and the gentleman I wish to be, the more I desire the latter… and it isyouwho has given me that. It is only a pity that you cannot see it.”
He did not give Lord Anderton time to answer, but turned sharply and began to walk to the library again. He had expected Lord Anderton to rebuff him, to say something which would bring him pain, or to shoot back a dark response but instead, the only sound was his footsteps on the hall floor as he strode away.
Chapter Twelve
“Miss Madeley.”
